Everything About LEED Certification & Environmental Design

Everything About LEED Certification & Environmental Design

READ TIME: 3-5 Mins

So, this whole time I thought it was spelled LEAD instead of LEED. But hey, we live and we learn. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who got that mixed up… hopefully. Following that initial fiasco, I researched into what all the buzz was about LEED certification. Needless to say, I was more interested than I thought I would be. Here’s the breakdown.

What does LEED Mean?

LEED stands for Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design, a
certification sought out globally in efforts of going more “green” in the
buildings we inhabit. Sustainability has been a topic of discussion during the
past few decades. Yes, I am talking about those time-lapse videos on how all
the ice is slowly melting and how the world will look in 2050. With anything we
do today, the big question is – “Is this safe for the environment?” People have
grown accustomed to looking for a green leaf or a recycling symbol on the
products and services they buy. It’s either you have it, or you don’t, which
may be the deal breaker for some.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) first developed
the LEED certification program over 20 years ago as a framework for design,
construction, and operations for buildings of all categories. A standard has
been constructed upon projects to build with a purpose. It encourages building
planners and teams to operate under the umbrella of sustainability by using the
right tools and resources. Being LEED-certified not only benefits the
environment. There are many reasons to get verified under LEED:

Brand recognition as a leader in sustainability

Fostering a place of healthy goals and best
practices

Increase in your building’s financial value

Boost for both the contractor and building owner

A building created for the community, occupants,
and its surroundings

USGBC has recently updated to a newer version of LEED, v4.1,
in order to adapt to a world that is constantly changing.
The goal is to improve and be more inclusive of current benchmarks. They
describe it as, “bigger, stronger and bolder”.

How Does A Building Get LEED Certified?

LEED certification occurs under several categories ranging from Water Efficiency, Innovation, Location & Transportation and more. Each category offers points you can earn for meeting its requirements. The certification starts off with 40 points and as you rack up more points you reach higher rating tiers: Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80+ points). After choosing the appropriate credits aligned with your project, make sure you have the right equipment to get the job done. The LEED Credit Library outlines all applicable credits and how they can be earned.

Why Does LEED Certification Matter?

Interiors by Guernsey aims to be environmentally conscious for healthy and sustainable outcomes. We prioritize the use of greener products and practices while simultaneously reaching your goals hand-in-hand. During the manufacturing process, goods are exposed to many toxic chemicals. We work with the right people to get you the most environmentally sound products at an affordable price range to complete your space planning and design. Interested in learning more about LEED certification?

Ethan is an avid follower of sports and music, appreciates the small things in life, and believes pizza is always the answer. Studied Creative Advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University, his passion for marketing and design stay true to him everyday. Pass him a shovel, because he can dig it.